A facial reconstruction based on the skull of Richard III has revealed how the English king may have looked.

A skeleton found under a car park in Leicester has been confirmed as that of the king.

The reconstructed face has a slightly arched nose and prominent chin, similar to features shown in portraits of Richard III painted after his death.

Historian and author John Ashdown-Hill said seeing it was "almost like being face to face with a real person".

The development comes after archaeologists from the University of Leicester confirmed the skeleton found last year was the 15th Century king's, with DNA from the bones having matched that of descendants of the monarch's family.

Richard, who was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 at the age of 32 after just two years on the throne, having been challenged by the forces of Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII. Continue reading the main story Richard III graphic

Interactive: Twisted bones reveal a king

Dr Ashdown-Hill, who wrote The Last Days of Richard III, said: "The most obvious features in portraits are the shape of the nose and the chin and both of those are visible in the facial reconstruction."

Richard III Society member Philippa Langley, originator of the search, said on a Channel 4 documentary earlier: "It doesn't look like the face of a tyrant. I'm sorry but it doesn't.

"He's very handsome. It's like you could just talk to him, have a conversation with him right now."

Layers of muscle and skin were added by computer to a scan of the skull and the result was made into a three-dimensional plastic model. 'In the presence'

Dr Ashdown-Hill said: "I had said previously that when I stood by the grave in Leicester that I felt closer to...

Um, there's no shortage of medieval portraits of King Richard III that he himself sat for.

No, actually, there aren't. None of the pictures made in life have survived. All the portraits we have were painted many years after his death, and some were deliberately uglified to make him seem extra-conniving and evil.

What I find shocking is his deeply scoliotic spine. How crushed his internal organs must have been when the curvature was so deep.

Yes. . .Do always wonder about these reconstructions. . .how do they know the 'quality' of the skin; the smoothness; fineness;...the masculine or feminine, finishes? So to speak. Actually; don't think he looks 'sooo' different (younger; yes) than the images we see.

And those maybe with a few 'kind' strokes. Who knows? Another big 'erasure' on it's way. Scoliosis confirmed; however.

Bigger 'weird' here: Richard found only two feet under. . .Can only imagine; what else/who else; may be 'so close'; and yet so far.

Isnt he the one associated with the mysterious deaths of the two child princes in The Tower of London? Maybe being buried under a parking lot is appropriate.

____________________________________________

He is the one, and contemporary opinion held that Richard III had them murdered. The fact of the matter is that there is no certain knowledge of what happened to the two princes, his nephews. Richard III is sort of a Rorschach test for speculators as to whether he was a villain or a hero or a mix. I incline towards the latter opinion.

Two skeletons of youngsters were found in the Tower in 1674, and were buried in Westminster Abbey on the presumption these were the princes. These skeletons were re-examined in 1933, and were deemed to be appropriate ages, but little else was determined. No one has attempted DNA analysis thus far - perhaps this may spark some interest in doing so.

Richard III has his admirers too, I think basically simply for the ferocity and physical courage he showed in defending his crown, and of course being the last of a distinguished line.

The Wars of the Roses were vicious. People looking for heroes in it are going to be disappointed.

32
posted on 02/04/2013 7:12:43 PM PST
by Psalm 144
(Capitol to the districts: "May the odds be ever in your favor.")

A wonderful book. Thanks for mentioning it here. Freepers esp. would enjoy it I think. It gives many good examples of historical “truths” that are just plain old malarky. Since we are really living in an age of that it is newly timely I think.

If you read Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time, you’ll see an alternate theory that RIII’s successor/overthrower, Henry VI, killed off the little princes.

Henry VI died in 1471. You mean VII.

Too obvious. I suspected Henry Stafford Strafford 2d Duke of Buckingham... before... I noticed that all of the families of York and Lancaster had a big meeting at St Pauls Catherdal on Lady Day (25 March) 1457 where they swore to be BFFs. Over the next 30 years they all died mysterious deaths, except ... Lady Margret Beaufort, mother of Harri Tudur, later Henry VII.

Cherchez la femme

And I swear I spotted this before I saw Princes in the Tower (2005)

43
posted on 02/04/2013 8:41:57 PM PST
by Oztrich Boy
(I think, therefore I am what I yam, and that's all I yam - "Popeye" Descartes)

I love that kind of thing. I love the one guy that does reconstructions in the U.S. for missing persons. He did it for that famous killer they featured on America's Most Wanted. Oh geez, trying to think of both of their names. The killer's name would probably come to me sooner. Murdered his family in CT in 60's or 70's and started a new life. Anyway, the guy that does them has a 6th sense about it.

Francis Augustus “Frank” Bender (June 16, 1941  July 28, 2011) was a world-renowned autodidact forensic artist and fine artist. He made facial reconstructions of the dead based on their skeletons, and of fugitives based on out of date photographs, with his reconstructions showing how they might look in the present day.

Interesting to read the tweets of the British about this  actors and other famous folk are fascinated by this news!

Neat! If you have time, you'll have to share some of the more interesting tweets. I had to look up Severus Snape. I've seen some Harry Potters, some bits and pieces, but have never been dedicated with it. Love Rickman's voice. He and Jeremy Irons have great voices. Found this on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qloszXpJw

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